Six Ways to Embellish Your Resume Without Lying
Most of us accept the fact that, many times, a sales pitch
tends to stretch the truth. But stretching the truth on your
resume, even though it is the equivalent of a sales pitch
promoting you, is never acceptable.
Of
course, you may not have to endure the public humiliation David
Edmondson, former CEO of Radio Shack, did when newspapers
across the nation reported he resigned after admitting the
degrees listed on his resume were "incorrect." And Oprah isn't
likely to rip you on her show like she did James Frey when
false portrayals of his past in his "non-fiction" memoir "A
Million Little Pieces" were uncovered. But the point is, while
you may feel the need to pump up your resume to grab an
interviewer's attention and land that prized position,
eventually these "little white lies" will catch up with
you.
So how can you enhance your resume without going overboard?
Try some of these tricks:
Avoid half-truths and gross exaggerations.
Most hiring managers and recruitment professionals have had
their share of resumes pass across their desks during their
career. So they are usually adept at deciphering embellishments
in a resume. They know that spending the last 10 years as a
"domestic engineer" means you simply were home with your
kids.
Keywords can help your resume stand out.
Rather than embellish your titles and accomplishments, use
recognizable industry keywords that will jump out at hiring
managers reading your resume and communicate exactly where your
expertise lies. Keywords also help your resume get flagged if
you're submitting it electronically or posting it on a job
site.
Focus on quantifiable accomplishments.
Use specifics when detailing your past accomplishments -- the
amount of money you saved the company, the number of employees
you managed, etc. Rather than saying you saved the company
millions, state precisely that you "saved the company $2.4
million." Actual numbers and percentages sound much more
credible.
Change titles only if it clarifies your position.
If your title uses little known, company-specific jargon, such
as being called an "office contact," when you performed duties
consistent with an "administrative assistant," then go ahead
and use the better suited title. You could list your title on
your resume as "office contact/administrative assistant." Of
course that doesn't give you the latitude to promote yourself
to "vice president of administration."
Address gaps in your resume.
Instead of fudging the dates of your past jobs to cover an
employment gap, address the lapse in your resume or cover
letter to maintain chronological clarity. For instance, if you
were out of work for a year during which time you took courses
to enhance your education or professional credentials, list
this academic stint on your resume, rather than pretending the
period of unemployment never happened.
Half-finished degrees should not be listed.
If you "almost" completed your degree, you cannot list it as
an earned degree on your resume. However, no education is ever
wasted. Be sure to give yourself credit and list any completed
coursework in a particular major or concentration.
Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for
CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search
strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace
issues.
Copyright 2008 CareerBuilder.com. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.
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